The Forming, Developing
and Crisis of the Identity of Tsingtao City

Tsingtao had formed its identity during the period of
Germany occupation from 1897
to 1914, which combined
the Germany culture and Chinese culture. The city’s identity has further developed in
the following long history, especially in the first occupation period
by Japanese (1914—1922) and the period of Republic of China (1922--1937). However, it has been suffering serious destructions since
1990s due to the serge of city modernization, so the paper’s aim is to appeal measures to prevent
those destructions.

Tsingtao is a famous city worldwide with its particular development
history background.
In 1891, emperorGuangxu of Qing
government ordered Zhang Gaoyuan, the military commander of Dengzhou (the
present Jiaodong District), to garrison Tsingtao, which marked the official establishment
of Tsingtao as a city. From 1897 to 1914, Germany occupied Tsingtao and started
large scale of constructions with Kiaochow
Treaty, which
provided the architect with chances to form the city’s identity. Afterward, Tsingtao had been occupied by Japanese from
1914 to 1922, controlled by the government of Republic of
China from 1922 to
1937. Japanese replaced Chinese government and reoccupied Tsingtao from 1937 to 1945
andtill the establishment of People’s Republic of
China in 1949, the identity of Tsingtao has experienced stages of forming and
developing. However, it has being in unprecedented crisis and the identity has being
destructed and faded away.

1.Forming
of Tsingtao city identity

1.1 The unique plan ideas

There are two city plannings had been made
by Germany, prospectively in the year 1900 and 1910, during their 17 years’ occupation in Tsingtao. The city
construction had been started then in a large scale step by step. Tsingtao was
updated from some small fishing villages to a modern city whose character was transferred from a
military port to city of trade and tourism. Obviously, the identity of that city was
combined by the merging of Germany culture and Chinese culture. In this
particular period, Germany culture was the principal part of the identity and
Chinese culture affected it from time to time.

Fig 1. The City Planning of Tsingtaoin 1900

1.2 Bright Germany style

Germany has regarded Tsingtao as an important base to transfer German
culture into the far east, therefore, architecture here kept traditional Germany style as
much as possible. The most important public buildings in city center, such as
the church, police office, independent villa etc, remained Germany feature.
(Fig.2Christ Church, constructed in
1908-1910)

1.3 Rare trace of Art Nouveau

It was in a transfer period to modern architecture. As the pioneer architecture of Art Nouveau, which
was called Jugendstil in
German, they apparently showed
modern styles of that time in Tsingtao.

For example, the Chemist’s Shop has the façade
of Jugendstil forms. The arches and curves which draw together the two upper
storeys of the southern façade and the two fireplaces are characteristic of the
Jugendstil. (Fig. 3 Chemist’s Shop)

Fig. 2 Christ
ChurchFig. 3Chemist’s Shop

1.4 Merging
of Germany and Chinese architecture
cultures

Chinese architecture culture kept effects on identity of Tsingtao.

First, not much pure large Chinese style buildings
were made at that time, but large quantities of Chinese architecture elements
merged into Germany buildings. It is clear from the analysisthatlarge number of Chinese architecturalpatterns emerged intoGerman architectural details in
Tsingtao. Let’s see the examples of the architecture
details in the identity of Tsingtao city. It is convinced that the Ionic
capital is the symbol of West architecture, however, the capital of Germany
building in Tsingtao embodies the emergence of China and the West cultures,
because the Chinese pattern , taijitu (diagram
of the Supreme Ultimate) appeared in the capital. (Fig. 4)

Secondly, it is
general held that the architecture styles of Chinese and West could not become
integrated directedly, nevertheless there are also some perfect performance in
the buildings of Tsingtao city.One
case can be seen in Ohlmer Residence, which was constructed during 1899-1900.
As the director of Maritime Customs and Excise office, Ohlmer was also an
architect with many works. At the drive to his own house he had a particular built
which was different from other buildings in Tsingtao then: a gatekeeper’s house
with a typical Chinese roof. (Fig. 5) Another case is Adjutant’s Residence
(constructed during 1899-1900), which showed further mergence of the two kinds
of cultures. The case with its Chinese tiled roof and the continuous veranda,
made it looked like neither German nor Chinese style. (Fig. 6)

Fig. 4 the
Capital of German Architecture in Tsingtao(left)

Fig. 5 Ohlmer
Residence (right)

Fig. 6Adjutant’s Residence

2. Developing of Tsingtao city identity

2.1 the
First occupation period by Japanese

As the only far east battlefield in the first world war, Tsingtao’s
identity has been further developed when Japanese replaced Germany. With the
merging of Japanese architecture style, there are more
contents in the city identity than ever.

On one hand, in this period, pure Japanese architecture style appeared in Tsingtao. But with small
quantities, small
scale and outlandish location, it had few affect in the identity of Tsingtao city. The Japanese
Temple (constructed in 1915) is an example like this. (Fig.7)

On the other hand, most of actions are made to amend or even develop Germany architectural
styles. Lots of Germany architecture details
were remained but even simplified. We can see from the cases that the
architectural materials
are used more
freely and the scale of
indoor space are smaller at that time. Meanwhile, the facade more or less shows Japanese architectural
style. For
instance, Japanese Middle School, designed by Japanese architect and built in
1920, had such kind of details. (Fig.8)

Fig. 7 the Japanese TempleFig. 8the Japanese Middle School

2.2 the
Period of Republic of China

The government of Republic of
China took over
Tsingtao in 1922. The range of Tsingtao city was continuous expanded at that
period, which means more contents would be added into the city identity.
Actually, the society
was more open-minded and more advanced architectural ideas were accepted in a wide
range, so the city
architecture absorbed lots of Chinese traditional elements and West architectural elements altogether.In a word, Tsingtao’s identity actually has
turned into a multicultural community by this time,and among those cultures Germany architectural style still played the important role.

Frequently, Chinese character appeared in this period. New items were added into
the city identity. It is a obvious phenomena that many Chinese architectural styles can
been seen along the
beach scenery of Tsingtao, which proved that Tsingtao’scity identity is a combination of
Chinese and Western architecture cultures. For example, the
Tsingtao aquarium is Chinese style, which was built in1932. (Fig.9)

Large quantities of Germany-based eclecticism buildings were established at
that time. In the districts of villas, Germany
architecture feature could be found obviously, especially in badaguan villas district. (Fig. 10)

Meanwhile, as one of the most active places in China even
East Asia, Tsingtao certainly absorbed ideas of modern architecture,but the quality and scale of modern
buildings in this period were strictly under control. Thosebuildings formed part of the city identity. For
instance, donghaifandian (the Eastsea
Hotel) once was one of the most modern buildings in China, which was completed
in 1932. We owed its success not only to its early modern forms, but also to
its sight design and size control, so the scenery of the sea can be seen from
each guest room and its size could notspoil the natural outline. (Fig.11)

Fig. 9Tsingtao aquariumFig. 10the villa in badaguan

Fig.
11the Eastsea Hotel (donghaifandian)

2.3 Since 1980s

Since 1980s, the largest city construction has been made, and
at the same time
Chinese government has made lots of efforts to keep the city identity,so new constructions in the old city
area have been trying hard to assort with historical buildings. Therefore,
the city identity has
been transferred and continued. Most of buildings in this period, especially
those close to old residence areas, remained characters of red-tile roof and
decorated architrave of the frontispiece. Such kind of phenomenon was even called “Renaissance in
Tsingtao”. (Fig. 12)

Fig. 12New
Community of Tsingtao in 1980s

3. Crisis of Tsingtao city identity

However, the city identity has been experiencing crisis in the recent
years. On the one hand, the city whole plan lost more control, therefore large scales of buildings has been
established in old city areas one after the other, thus the old city identity is
unavoidably destructed. On the other hand, many historical, symbolic buildings
and road are destroyed ruthlessly. Comparing with the situation half century
ago, the current city identity is facing the crisis of disappearing. There
are some cases as follows, which are the really tragedies we reluctant to see
again:

The railway station of Tsingtao, built in
1904, the representative of Jugendstil of that time, was demolished more than 10 years
ago becauseit could not affordso many passengers. (Fig.13) Another case is
about the office building ofcustom in
Tsingtao, which was also built in the period of German occupation. Many
historians appeal to preserve it, however, unfortunately they failed. It was
torn down only two months ago.(Fig.14)

Fig. 13the
railway stationFig. 14the office building of custom

Boluoyouzi,
a famous street with more than 100 years, has been demolished
completely., and almost all the houses beside the street disappeared forever.
And now, a viaduct spans the location there. (Fig. 15) The street contains the
whole history and culture of the citizens in old community of Tsingtao, so it’s
a pity that from then on no one can see it again! It's an irreversible loss for
the city identity.

Fig. 15view of boluoyouzi and the
viaduct

Recently the tragedy will perform again, for
the large-scale transform has started inzhongshanlu, the most famous
business street in the old district of Tsingtao. The summer hotel, along this
road, constructed in 1900s, had been torn down two month before. However, some
large scale buildings were set up. (Fig. 16)

Fig. 16the
Summer Hotel and zhongshanlu

It is not simple to give the reasons for the
complicated phenomenon of the losing identity. In my opinion, there are several
reasons for it. For one thing, it is for the long time that the government
officials can not realize the importance of keeping the identity of the city.
For another, facing the problems of the city, such as the increasing
population, the expanding city function and the lagging municipal facilities,
the old communities could not satisfied the requirement of the citizens. In
addition, the government officials intend to get achievements as much as
possiblein their terms of office， but at the cost ofthe city identity.

4. Protective strategy for the city identity

How to prevent such tragedy coming again? In
my opinion, it’s necessary to establish the protective policies and toarousethe surveillance of the masses to
prevent further destruction of city identity. On the other hand, for the
government, a well
developed old-city alteration plan should be set up to improve the resident
living facility and municipal facility with the remaining of the city identity. To sum
up, the government, the law and everyone is responsible for the protection of
Tsingtao’s identity. (From Fig. 17 you can understand the situation of Tsingdao’s
identity, andalso know the crisis of
the city identity now. )